Legislators brief Maine Islands Coalition

The Maine Islands Coalition met May 6 in Rockland with 30 people in attendance. Representatives from Cliff, Monhegan, Cranberry Isles, Town of Long Island, Islesboro, North Haven, Swan's, Matinicus, Frenchboro, Peaks, Vinalhaven, Little Diamond and Great Diamond attended. State Sens. Dennis Damon and Ethan Strimling also took part in the meeting. The Coalition was formed over a year ago to give a unified voice to Maine's year-round island communities.

The meeting focused on tax reform. Sen. Strimling (D-Portland), whose district now includes the Casco Bay islands, headed a discussion of L.D. 2, a proposed constitutional amendment to limit the taxable value of homestead property. He encouraged island residents to call Taxation Committee members and lobby them to move the bill.

Sen. Damon (D-Swan's Island) gave an update on the state's Essential Programs and Services (EPS) school funding formula. EPS considers students at every school in Maine the same when providing funding. Weights are added for special needs, economically disadvantaged and English As a Second Language students, as well as for transport in rural areas. Funding is based on student enrollment; loss of enrollment diminishes funding. Smaller rural schools, including many on islands, would lose money under the plan.

Sen. Damon reported that L.D. 299, a constitutional amendment to allow waterfront land that supports commercial fishing activities to be assessed based on current use, passed the House and Senate with a two-thirds vote and needs a majority vote from Maine people in a referendum this November. The amendment is needed, supporters contend, to preserve the state's remaining 25 miles of working waterfront. The Coalition passed a motion to support L.D. 299 and established a committee to explore ways the Coalition can campaign in support of the legislation.

The Coalition's Affordable Housing Subcommittee reported that it was focusing on a "State of the Island Housing" report, which will be a brief document that demonstrates the need for affordable housing and preservation of place on Maine islands.

The next Maine Islands Coalition meeting is scheduled for Aug. 5 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Rockland. The meetings are open to the public. For more information about the Maine Islands Coalition, contact the Chairman, Roger Berle, at 781-5331 or rkberle@msn.com or visit www.islandinstitute.org/islandscoalition.

Alyson Mayo is an Island Institute Fellow on Islesboro.